Heating garment



Aug. 18, 1936. B H L 2,051,524

HEATING GARMENT Filed May 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18, 1936. B. HILL 2,051,524.

' HEATING GARMENT Filed May 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HEATING GARMENT Benjamin Hill, Wilkinsburg, Pa. Application .May 14, 1935, Serial No. 21,441 13 Claims. (01. 4-160) This invention relates to a heating garment, and heating garment assembly.

One object of the invention is to provide a heating garment, adapted for connection with a 5 source of heated fluid, which may be worn to receive and distribute heated fluid over a portion of the body, thereby locally'heating the body externally throughout a period of time which may be of relatively great duration, without raising lit the internal body temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heating garment adapted to be placed in communication with a source of heated fluid by means of a flexible duct, or ducts, so arranged and at- 1; tached that provision is made for limited movement of the body region embraced by the heating garment.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a View, taken partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing a source of heated fluid, and a heating garment, or garments, in the form of a pair of drawers, connected for communication with the source of heated fluid. I

Fig. II is a view, partly in side elevation and 05 partly in vertical section, showing one leg, or drawer, element, and illustrating the position of such heating garment, or element, on a leg of the wearer.

Fig. III is a plan view of a pair of drawers, as

33 shown in Figs. I and II, showing the ducts and connections for placing both of the leg, or drawer, elements in communication with a source of heated fluid.

Fig. IV is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line IVIV of Fig. II, showing in detail the structure of a rigid vestibule for admitting heated fluid in distributed streams to the interior of -a leg, or drawer, of the pair.

Fig. V is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the rigid vestibule structure of Fig; IV, and illustrating the attachment of a leg element of the garment, and the attachment of a duct for conveying heated fluid to the garment.

Fig. VI is a side elevation of an electric furnace usable as a source of heated fluid for supply to the heating garment.

Fig. VII is a cross-sectional View, taken on the plane VIIVII of Fig. VIII, showing a modified .31. form of rigid vestibule structure, for the distributed admission of heated fluid to one leg, or drawer, element, of the pair of drawers shown in Figs. I, II and III of the drawings.

Fig. VIII is a View partly in plan, and taken 55 partly in section in theplane VIII-VIII of Fig.

VII, showing the modified form of rigid vestibule which is shown in Fig. VII, and showing a leg, or drawer, element of the pair of drawers constituting the heating garment, connected with the vestibule structure. 5

.Fig. IX is an elevational view, showing the heating garment in the form of a sleeve applied to the arm of a wearer.

Fig. X is a fragmentary, isometric view, show.- ing in detail a vent for the heating sleeve shown 10 in Fig. IX of the drawings.

Fig. XI is a plan view of a vestment constituting the equivalent of a pair of drawers, and in form simpler than the drawers shown in Figs. I, II, and III of the drawings, but otherwise similarly constructed and arranged.

Fig. XII is an elevational view of a form of the heating garment adapted to embrace, and apply heat to, the shoulders and chest of a wearer.

Fig. XIII is a similar view of a similar garment, but partly broken away to show in section a modified vestibule structure for the distributed admission of heated fluid to the interior of the garment.

Fig XIV is a View, taken partly in elevation, and partly in vertical section, showing a form of heating garment adapted to embrace, and supply heated fluid to, the torso of a wearer.

Fig. XV is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional View, showing in detail the vestibule structure of Fig. XIV, for supplying heated fluid to the interior of the heating garment arranged for application of heat to the torso of the wearer.

Fig. XVI is a horizontal, sectional View, taken in the plane XVIXVI of Fig. XIV, showing particularly means for attaching this form of heating garment to the torso of a wearer, and for directing the heated fluid to selected regions of the torso.

In the drawings reference numeral 5 designates a small furnace for heating air. As shown, and as is most convenient, this furnace I comprises an electrical resistance element 2, and has in a side thereof a rotatable shutter, or damper, 3, by means of which the quantity of air passing through the closed structure of the furnace may be regulated. At a discharge connection from the furnace, there is mounted a fan 4, which may be operated as a pump and blower, to draw air through the furnace, and to force it to the heating garment.

The heating garment proper, shown in Figs. I, II, and III, comprises a pair of drawers, into the leg-embracing elements 5 and 6 of which the legs cf'a person may be inserted. These drawer eleing from the source of heated air.

ments 5 and -6 are in the form of simple tubes,

which are of a length to extend over the hips of the drawers, each of the elements 5 and 6 has throughout a substantial portion of its length a longitudinal opening, adapted to be closed by suitable means, such' as the hookless slide fastener 8; These drawer elements 5 and 6, desirably, are' made of some heavy material, relatively impenetrable by aeriform fluids, such as a heavy twill, or suitable rubberized fabric.

At its closed terminal each of the drawer elements 5 and B is connected to a hollow sole, designated generally by reference numeral 9, which serves as a vestibule for the reception of aeriform fluid and its distributed delivery into 'the'interior of the enveloping vestment formed by each of the drawer elements.

Thehollow sole 9'comprises plates I0 and II which, as shown in Figs..IV and V of the drawings, may be of wood, or other suitable fibrous material. Surrounding these" sole elements 1 I0 and l I, to provide a closed chamber therebetween, is a wall l2 of flexible, but relatively self-supporting material, such as linoleum. The fabric of the drawer element 5 being drawn over the assembly, is secured thereto by means of binding'strips l3 and tacks M, the tacks extending through the binding strips, the fabric of the drawer, and the linoleum, into the edge surfaces of the sole elements Illand ll. p

A fitting for the introduction of heated fluid between the walls of the double sole is likewise secured to the edges of the sole elements, or walls, In and H. This fitting comprises a base plate I5 upon which is a closed boss l5. The'closed boss has thereon a tubular nipple H, which is adapted to'receive the terminal of a flexible duct I8 lead- The inner sole element, or wall, II is, as shown in Fig. IV, per- 'forate to provide a plurality of ports l9, which placethe' interior of the double sole in communication with the interior of the drawer element 5. As shown in'this figure of the drawings,

the ports l9 are arranged adjacent the edge of the wall I l to direct heated fluid around the foot and leg of a person wearing the garment. .Heated air is thus distributed into a plurality of streams as supplied to the interior of the vestment enveloping the leg of thewearer, teriorly therealong. a

This form of heating garment may readily be and passes in;

vented by retracting the slide fastener 8 associatedwith ave'stment from a position in which .it wholly closes the longitudinally extending .the drawers it is desirable that the connection between the drawers and the source of heated air be flexible, in order that the position of the legs may be shiftable sufficiently to prevent severediscomfort. "Limited movement of the legs is provided by flexibility of the ducts l8 which connect directly each with one of the drawer elements 5 and 6, and by the flexibility'of duct 20, connected directly with the fan 4. As shown in Fig. III of the drawings, a rigid fitting 2l,'in the general form of a 1' connection, is used to interconnect flexible duct 20 and the flexible ducts I8;

A modified form of double sole, forming a vestibule for the introduction of heated air to the vestment of the heatinggarment, is shown in Figs. VII and VIII. Such modified structure is provided by two matching metallic elements, desirably of cast aluminum, or other suitable material. In this modified form, the outer sole element 22 is in the form of a boss, having around an opening in one of the more extended faces thereof, an upstanding flange 23. The other sole element is in the form of a perforate plate 24, having a peripheral upstanding flange 25, arranged to fit within the flange 23 of the outer element. The outer sole element, lying beyond the flange 23, has thereon a nipple 26 for the attachment of a flexible duct.

It will be noted in Fig. VII that the ports 21 through plate 24 are grouped in the region where the toes of a wearer lie, andarealso disposedat the heel and instep of a wearer. This grouping of 7 ports I have found to be generally more advan tageous than the simple arrangement shown in Fig. IV of the drawings, since it directs asubstantial proportion of the heated air over the knee-joint of a wearer. V

Fig. IX of the drawings shows aheating gar.-

ment for applying heated air to an arm. In this air to the garment, is mounted on the outer'wall .7

of the double-walled closure, or vestibule, and leads thereinto. r V 1 While the sleeve may be. made of any desired length, it is generally preferable to make it of the length shown in Fig. IX, so that the draw string 29 is tied under the arm-pit and over the shoulder of the wearer, and heated air is carried the entire length of 'the arm. It is desirable in such arrangement that the sleeve be vented at the shoulder in such manner that heated air is not blown against the face of the wearer. For this purpose Idesirably providea venting port 32 through the fabric at the shoulder, and add at the vent a flap 33 serving to direct the issuing air downwardly along the exterior surface of the sleeve- V Fig. XI of the-drawings shows a heating garment for the heat treatment of the Iega'Which" constitutes in eifect'a'simpliflcation of the garment shown in Figs.'I, II, and III of the draw ings. This heating garment of Fig. XI comprises a single vestment 34, which is adapted toreceive both legs of a wearer, and'whichrisj provided with a drawstring 35 adapted to surround the waist of the wearer. ment'a double-walled closure element isarranged .to provide distributed streams of heated air to The double-walled the interior of the garment. closure is, in this figure of the drawings, shown At the digital end of the vest somewhat diagrammatically, as in Fig. II of the" drawings, as comprising an outer wall 36, and an inner wall 3! having ports 38 thereinto. A fitting comprising :a' nipple 39 communicates with the interior of thevestibule between the walls 36 and 31.1

' .It is understood that in detail this closure ele- 75.

ment may be madein accordance either with the specific structure shown in Figs. IV and V, or in accordance with the specific structure shown in Figs. VII and VIII. In either case it need differ in contour only from either such form of vestibule closure.

In Fig. XI there is shown a thermometer 40 of the circular type, which is mounted on the vestment 34, to indicate the temperature existing in the interior thereof. It is to be understood that such a thermometer may be incorporated in any form of the heating garment. Desirably, a fiapped vent Al is provided in a position to lie at a hip of the wearer.

' Figs. XII and XIII show simple forms of my heating garment adapted for the application of heat to the chest and shoulders of a wearer. In the structure of Fig. XII the main portion of the vestment is in the form of an abbreviated jersey, providing a chest-embracing region 42, having a neck 43 and one abbreviated sleeve 44. Draw strings 45, or some equivalent, such as strips of elastic fabric, are provided at the open terminal of each of these portions of the vestment.

The other sleeve 46 is of a length to extend beyond the finger tips of a wearer, and has at its interiorly ported digital terminal a double-walled closure, or vestibule, structure 41, which is similar to the structure 30 at the digital end of the sleeve 28 shown in Fig. IX of the drawings. It is similarly provided with a nipple 48 for the attachment of a duct conducting heated fluid to the garment. Desirably, a flapped vent 49, is provided in the shoulder region of the vestment which surmounts the. abbreviated sleeve 43.

The garment shown in Fig. XIII is closely similar to that shown in Fig. XII. The garment of Fig. XIII comprises a chest-embracing region 42a, neck i3a, abbreviated sleeve 44a, and elongate sleeve 45a, the abbreviated sleeve 44a being provided with draw strings 45m. A flapped vent 49a is shown in the abbreviated sleeve 44a.

The entry, or vestibule, structure of this form of the garment does, however, differ from the corresponding element shown in Fig. XII. In this form of garment, a regional inner wall lies inwardly of the fitting 5| for the attachment of a duct conducting heated fluid to the garment. This inner wall 5| is stitched, or otherwise attached, around its entire edge to the inner surface of the sleeve 46a. Inner wall 50 is perforate to provide a plurality of ports 52 for the distri buted supply of heated air to the interior of the vestment.

A form of the heating garment adapted particularly to the heat treatment of the torso is shown in Figs. XIV, XV, and XVI of the drawings. The vestment, or garment proper, of this modification is in the form of a sleeveless jersey extending from the neck to the waist of a wearer comprising a body portion 53, neck 54, and rudimentary sleeve portions 55. All of these portions of the garment are shown as closely engageable to the body by draw strings 56, save the body portion itself. This, as shown, is provided with an elastic band 5i for closely embracing the waist of a wearer to form a closed envelope about the torso.

The entry, or vestibule, structure of this modification comprises a double-walled element 58,

extending transversely along the rearward half of I the vestment, and having its inner wall perforate to provide a plurality of ports 59 for the distributed admission of heated air to the interior of the vestment. As shown, the vestibule element 58 is made in the form of an insert stitched into an opening at the rear of the vestment, and a nipple fitting 65, .for' connection. of a duct for conveying heated air to the garment, is connected between the inner and outer walls of element 58.

In order that air may be properly distributed over the back, which is the region which this modification is adapted particularly to heat, a plurality of draw strings 6| are attached to the interior of the vestment in its rearward region. As shown in Fig. XVI, these draw strings are each attached to the body of the vestment at two transversely spaced points 62 to leave slack between the points of attachment. A taut band 63 extends substantially between the points of attachment 62, toprevent the portion of the garment lying between these points from being drawn closely against the body of the wearer. The opposite ends of each of the draw strings 6! are brought outwardly through a pair of eyelets t, which are spaced transversely at the front of the garment. The draw strings 6| may each be attached to the interior surface of the vest ment at several points throughout the length of the vestment, to extend between the points of attachment 52 and the eyelets 64.

t will be seen that this structure distributes the incoming heated air initially at the lower region of the back. Thence it passes along the spine, in the longitudinal channel A, defined by the attachment of the draw strings at the rear of the vestment. In degree, air may pass around the torso, in the regions B lying between the several draw strings 6!, and has restricted exit at the eyelets If desired, a more ample vent,

or vents, such as those shown in preceding forms of the garment, may be provided at a shoulder, or shoulders.

In use of modification of the heating garment, it is desirable that the portion of the body incased be covered directly with some soft woven, or knitted, fabric, such as fiannel. This tends to prevent skin irritation due to heating, and maintains a moist atmosphere within the enveloped region of the body. With such protection a heat treatment may be conducted at relatively high temperature for long periods of time, since the heating is external and local, and does not raise the internal body temperature under normal constitutional conditions of the wearer. Also the distributed introduction of the heated fluid into the garment, by preventing intense heating upon a small area of the body surface, permits the temperature within the garment to e made high, without injury to the wearer. The temperature maintained within the garment is, however, to be limited in each individual treatment to such physical condition and idiosyncrasies of the wearer as is within the knowledge of his, or her, physician.

It should be understood that the garment is adapted for use in chilling the body, as well as heating it. This may be effected merely by connecting the garment to a source of chilled air, or other aeriform fluid, in place of a source of heated air. In the claims, therefore, the word heated is to be considered as defining also the opposite condition in whch the fluid supplied 7 for connection to said duct and arranged to distribute in the garment heated fluid supplied thereto.

2. A heating garment comprising a vestment 7 adapted to enclose a body region and to form of heated fluid to the entry portion of said garment and providing for limited movement of the body region enclosed by the garment.

4. A heating garment for the external application of heat to the body comprising a vestment adapted to enclose a body region to provide an envelope therearound, an entry fitting on said vestment for the connection of a fluid-conveying duct thereto, flexible binding strips for binding said vestment in zones to make fluid-tight connection with the body, and an opening providing for egress of heated fluid from the vestment and out of contact with the regional portion of the body incased by the binding of said vestment thereto.

5. A heating garment comprising a vestment adapted to enclose a limb of the body comprising an elongate sheath, said vestment having at one end thereof flexible means for binding the vestment to the body in'a' region removed from the digital terminal thereof, a double-walled closure at the digital terminal of the elongate sheath of the vestment having in the outer wall thereof a fitting for the connection of a duct for conveying heated fluid to the garment, and having in the inner wall thereof perforations for the distributed admission of heated fluid to the interior of the vestment.

6..A heating assembly for the external application of heat to the body comprising the combination of a heater for fluid adapted to provide a current of heated fluid, with a heating garment comprising a vestment in the form of an elongate sheath, said vestment having in a region removed from the digital terminal thereof flexible means for binding the vestment to the body, a doubled walled closure at the digital terminal of the vestment having in the outer wall thereof a fitting for the connection of a duct for conveying heated fluid to the garment and having in the inner wall thereof perforations for the distributed admission of heated fluid to the interior of the vestment, and a flexible duct interconnecting said heater with the fitting of said double-walled closure.

7. A heating garment comprising a vestment adapted to enclose the torso of the body, flexible means at each open terminal of the vestment arranged to engage the vestment to the body to form an inoasing envelope about the body,'an entry structure for heated fluid adjacent one terminal of the vestment and adapted for connection to a source of the fluid, and a plurality of flexible elements adapted to define a longitudinal centrally disposed passageway for fluid positioned to direct heated fluid along the spine or" a wearer.

8. A heating garment comprising a vestment adapted to enclose the torso of the body, flexible means at each open terminal of the vestment arranged to engage the vestment to the body to form an inoasing envelope about the body, an entry structure for heated fluid adjacent, one terminal ofthe vestment and adapted for connection to a source of the fluid, and a plurality of flexible elements adapted to define a longitudinal centrally disposed passageway for fluid along the spine of a wearer, said flexible elements additionally defining lateral passageways partially surrounding the torso.

9. A heating garment in accordance with claim '7 in which the entry structure is formed and arranged to effect distributed introduction of heated fluid to the interior of the vestment.

10. A heating garment in accordance with claim 8 in which the entry structure is formed and arranged to effect distributed introduction of heated fluid to the interior of the vestment.

11. A heating assembly for the external application of heat to the bodycomprising a heater adapted to supply a current of heated fluid, said garment comprising a pair of vestments in the form of elongate sheaths adapted to surround each a'leg of the wearer, an entry structure for the admission of heated fluid arranged at the digital terminal of each garment and comprising a nipple for the attachment of a flexible duct, a rigid triple fitting adapted to connect with flexible ducts leading to both vestments and providing for the attachment of a third duct thereto, and a flexible duct leading from the source of heated fluid to said triple fitting.

12. A heating assembly in accordance with claim 11 in which flexible elements are provided in each vestment to engage the terminal opposite the digital terminal thereof to the body of the 

